We Need a Devin Gardner Appreciation Thread

This season has gone down the tubes, but the saddest thing I have seen was Devin Gardner putting his face on the turf after the fumble at Iowa and then his post-game press conference. The guy is hurting in his heart and Michigan fans need to step up and put a hand on his shoulder. Sure, this season has fallen way short of our hopes and what many of us hoped would be a great season for Devin has instead turned into a massive learning experience. But this is a terrific young man and Michigan fans need to step up and give him some love. Our QB is really down -- probably the coaches are too -- and we need to pick him up with some appreciation. So let's keep all snarkiness out of this thread and instead remember some of the great things about Devin. If you have nothing good to say, then please say nothing. But our team is really down right now and Devin is taking it hard. Let's try to pick him up a bit.

"We will do our very best to carry on the Michigan tradition of excellence... And what I ask is that everyone that's for us is for us." Michigan Football Coach Jim Harbaugh

True blue and the best option we have right now. He has never turned on his teammates or coaches. Just tries to do his best and keeps on fighting. So classy in post game pressers despite the clear pain he is in.

The kid has been beaten, battered, and criticized, but he never throws his teammates under the bus. I've never questioned his effort. It wasn't all that long ago that it seemed we had a very talented QB and leader on our hands...he's shown us flashes. Maybe a new OC can bring out the best in him.

2. Devin is a very talented QB - he has produced at a very high level a number of times.

3. I have no doubt he can still do great things if someone is brought in to fix things.

BTW, I hope DG sees some of this positive stuff out there. For every hack that rips him, I bet there are a lot more who admire his class, toughness and heart. Is he perfect? No, but he is OUR QB, and one that deserves all of our support.

I'll show some love to Devin. The guy has been under fire all season. Anyone who saw this guy play at Inkster high could see that he was an outstanding athlete, but his qb skills were very raw and unrefined. Since good ole' Al has been coaching him up the last several years I can tell his footwork and decision making has improved tenfold.

Subpar protection, terrible scheme/situations, and a awesome qb coach have really prepared him for success.

We should have left Borges in Iowa city, if not happy valley or east Lansing.

Devin made a number of quick reads or ran for his life to keep plays alive.

It wasn't long before opposing coordinators noticed. Blitz and take away the quick throws. And after the beating he's taken, Devin doesn't look as elusive. I got to believe he has lost a step and is playing through some condition that is slowing his foot speed.

I imagine most of us on this board have been in a similar situation - been a kid, playing a game that meant more to you than anything, and lost and just felt like crap afterwards. But there's not many of us who've had millions of fans scrutinizing our play like these kids, making it feel even more important. My heart goes out ot not just Devin but to Team 134 - all of them are playing hard, all of them are hurting like this kid is. As the QB Devin takes a lot more of the flack, and so there's a bit more going out to him from me. Whatever else happens, I know these guys are going to go out there and make me proud by giving the Buckeyes everything they're made of.

Thanks for posting the video as I have been looking for it. This is like the opposite of the Hemmingway interview after the Sugar Bowl win. I feel bad for the kid. I hope he learns from the struggles this season, is able to use it to fuel his work towards next year, helps to lead the team to become more resiliant and tough in the future, and has a great season next year. Even more so I hope he has a coordinator and position coach that can help get the most of his ability very soon.

Strength equipment is expensive and guarantees you nothing. A strong will is free and can give you everything you want.

Nothing but respect for how he played WR and then moved to QB after injury.

I think the guy may not be the right guy for QB in 2014, given his head is probably filled with terrible coaching tips and Shane-Falco fears and flashbacks after this season.

The new OC and new QB coach (heaven help us if we don't have two new guys to replace over-sized Al) need to figure out in Spring ball if Morris is the right guy going forward as a SOPH and have Devin go back to WR.

Do we burn ANOTHER year of Morris' eligibility hoping that Devin can develop or just make the switch?

He's never uttered a word about any injuries he has. He has his arm in a sling and all he can do is take sincere responsibility for believing he lost the game yesterday. I'm proud of the kid and that he is one of ours. . .

Quite possible I'm seeing something that isn't there, but it seems like his teammates go out of their way to help DG get up. Getting up by himself may be difficult because of injury or his teammates really appreciate his efforts or both.

The past is history, the future's a mystery. Being alive in this moment is a gift--that's why they call it the present.

can do these kind of things to people. Now if we had never seen Gardner do what he did in 2012 and vs ND, I would want him to be benched as well. However it is clearly on Al Borges if you have been watching UM Football 2013. To make matters worse for AB, Denard also got worse under Borges. Now sure, Gardner needs to be a bit more mentally tougher because you cant play scared when there are opportunities but 70% of the heat he has gotten this year is unfair. The Devin Gardner we thought would lead this team to a B1G 10 Champ and have a B1G POY type season is still out there somewhere.

I don't blame Devin for much and I feel bad for him. He's given his best effort and that is all anyone can ask. But, it's not as if he's reading this blog. How exactly do we show love for him? I'm not gonna send him a Tweet or friend request him on FB just to say "Cheer up pal".

Strength equipment is expensive and guarantees you nothing. A strong will is free and can give you everything you want.

Although I dont feel Devin fits the prototypical QB for Al's offensive scheme, I feel bad for him. He gives it all for his team. I cant help to feel his confidence is shattered at this point, and I hope we can get the DG from the ND game back for next year.

I heard Desmond Howard on an ESPN radio commerical for sports psychology services and I immediately thought of Devin and how he should be receiving some of this in the offseason to get his confidence back.

DG is beat up, for sure, he is brave beyond brave, knowing he has a maybe a couple of seconds before getting sacked repeatedly. He has displayed courage, brains and class. Three things missing from people who criticize him.

He is also young and has the benefit of that youthful resilience. While i don't expect to see all his potential for OSU, given enough time to heal physically and with, hopefully, getting him an actual QB coach who can (gasp) develop him, he will be just fine for next year.

He is still raw in some respects, however the talent is clearly there. He showed it against ND (excluding that one bad play).

Definatly commend the guy for the heart and fight he has shown. Not fair to ask a guy in his first full year starting to be the entire offense, while getting hammered behind a horrible offensive line.

Hopefully if they go with a new offensive staff next year, he can develop and gain his confidence back. The potential to be a very good QB is there, he just needs to become more consistent. Some help from an actual running game, and better coaching would be beneficial.

Since then, opposing coordinators have seen that our O-Line is a sieve. If you were an opposing coordinator and saw Devin against ND and then saw Devin against MSU, you would take away how Devin burned ND. There's just not much risk in doing it, as your DBs won't have to cover for long.

Hope his talent isn't stifled through the rest of his career by inteptitude in coaching, protection, and playcalling. Our skill players in general are getting a bum wrap. Hard to blame the kids in the trenches when they are being thrown to the wolves fresh out of HS.

Trim off the fat, and let's get this kis into a game that matters before his college years are over.

I'm down for this. When Devin Gardner is healthy he's a heck of a QB. It's unfortunate for him this season that the O-line has fallen apart. He showed a lot of grit on Saturday. If it weren't for him, Michigan wouldn't have even been in the field position they were when he fumbled the ball. I've enjoyed watching him play.